I'd like to call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 82 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders, and therefore members are attending in person in the room, as well as remotely using the Zoom application.
I'd like to make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and the members. Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. You may speak in the official language of your choice. Interpretation services are available. Although this room is equipped with a powerful audio system, feedback events can occur. These can be extremely harmful to interpreters and can cause serious injury. The most common cause of sound feedback is an earpiece worn too close to a microphone.
With regard to a speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do our best to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether they are participating virtually or in person.
In accordance with the committee's routine motion concerning connection tests for witnesses, I'm informing the committee that all witnesses appearing virtually will have completed the required connection tests in advance of speaking. They are actually going through that process, so two speakers have yet to be cleared, but I just thought in the interest of saving time, we would get started.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motions adopted by the committee on Monday, January 31, 2022, and Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the committee resumes its study of the situation at the Russia-Ukraine border and implications for peace and security.
I'd now like to welcome our witnesses. We have Professor Jennifer Clapp, who is appearing as an individual. We have Professor Geoffrey Wood from Western University. We have Mr. Timothy Egan, who is familiar to us having previously appeared here. He is the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Gas Association. Finally, we're grateful to have Anna Ackermann, who is a policy analyst and specialist on the green reconstruction of Ukraine from the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
Mr. Egan, given that you are here, you will go first. You have five minutes for your opening remarks.